BREAKING: Prime Minister Gordon Brown to Annouce that 2 Iranian Diplomats to be Expelled

[kpete]

Source: The Wasington Note

BREAKING: Prime Minister Gordon Brown to Annouce that 2 Iranian Diplomats to be Expelled

The Washington Note has just received word that in a short while, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will announce that two Iranian diplomats stationed in the Iran Embassy to the United Kingdom will be expelled.

According to a British diplomat with whom I spoke, the UK government regrets this decision but it is the only appropriate response after Iran announced yesterday that it was expelling two British diplomats from Tehran.

The British diplomat expressed "disappointment" in this turn of events and emphasized that the UK wanted "a constructive relationship" with Iran -- and that engagement has been the standing policy of the Prime Minister and of British Foreign Secretary David Miliband.

-- Steve Clemons


Read more: http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/2009/06/break... /

[tocqueville]

1. way to go Gordie... nt

[ohio2007]

2. Of course, the mullahs will respond in kind within the obligatory 24 hr window.

dunno why Iran didn't allow foreign monitors in this time. Iran did send monitors to the US for oversight didn't they?

Jimmy Carter and his election oversight group should have been included. All this could have been avoided.......and the outcome could have been the same
jmo

[dipsydoodle]

3. It was in response to Iran doing the same earlier

The UK is to expel two Iranian diplomats in a tit-for-tat action after Tehran ordered two UK diplomats to leave the country.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced the move in the House of Commons.

He said it was in response to Iran ordering two UK diplomats to leave the country over allegations that were "absolutely without foundation".

Mr Brown added that he was "disappointed that Iran has placed us in this position".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8115358.stm

BTW Election observors were sent to Azerbaijan but were kicked out to avoid the risk of the USA not getting the outcome they needed there.

[Captain Hilts]

4. Well, THAT will scare the Iranian government! nt

[struggle4progress]

5. UK and Iran order tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions (Reuters)

Tue Jun 23, 2009 2:26pm EDT
By Adrian Croft and Matt Falloon

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain said on Tuesday it was throwing out two Iranian diplomats in response to Tehran's expulsion of two British diplomats as relations hit a new low following Iran's disputed presidential election.

Iran accused the British diplomats of "activities incompatible with their diplomatic status," Prime Minister Gordon Brown's spokesman said. He rejected the charge -- often used to denote spying -- as baseless.

Iran has accused Britain of interfering in its internal affairs after the June 12 election that sparked demonstrations in which at least 17 people have been killed ... http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-Iran/idUSTRE55M5RX20...